SUICIDE COMPACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4409, 1 February 1930, Page 3

SUICIDE COMPACT.

MRS. CUBITT -CONVICTED.

INQUEST ON DAVIES

Auckland, January 30.

A plea of guilty to the charge of attempting to commit suicide was entered by Julia Hayes Cubitt (Mr. Finlay) in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., to-day. IChief-Deteetrive Hammond said the woman had been found unconscious on the eastern tide deflector some weeks ago. She had been in hospital ever since. As she wa’s helped into the courtroom by two men, Mrs. Cubitt was trembling violently, and she sat throughout the proceedings with her head bowed. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months. STATEMENT BY MRS. CUBITT. The inquest into the death of John Llewellyn Davies was then begun. “I do not remember what happened on the waterfront, nor do T remember going into the water. My recollection is a blank as to that.” Tijembjling, Mrs. Cubitt indicated with a nod that the foregoing statement was hers. The statecontinued : “I was divorced some -three years ago following upon a deed of separation between my husband and myself. I became acquainted with deceased some two years ago. I was with him on Now Year’s Eve. I met him about 10 p.m. at the house of a relative of mine. I had been at my relative’s house all day, and deceased came there by arrangement. There had been no talk of- suicide up till then. We left my relative’s house between half-past ten and halfpast eleven, and went into town. We walked up and down the street for some time. Deceased was in a mental condition that I had never seen him in before. He was terribly worried and melancholic, and was talking wildly. We finally arrived at an hotel in the city, where deceased had a friend. I was very worried myself at that time; in fact, distracted. We went from the hotel lo the waterfront after having written letters of farewell at the hotel. We had not agreed to commit suicide, but I 'knew that if deceased committed suicide I could only do the same, and I was worried about him and what he would do.” For a month Mrs. Cubitt, who is a midwife, aged 33, lias been in Auckland •Hospital in a bad state of health. Until to-day she was unable to tell her story of New Year’s Day waterfront tragedy, “IN VERY NERVY CONDITION.” David L. Lewis, assistant manager of Radio Ltd., said he had worked for Davies for a number of years. For some time past lie had seemed depressed and upset, and on December 30 he called witness into his office and told him he was going to make an end of things.| Later he seemed better. They had some drink together at the conclusion of the day’s work on December 31. For tlie past six months Davies had been in a very nervy condition. He had frequently complained of pains and no/ises in the head and said that lie had not been sleeping well.

Mr. Hammond said deceased’s wife was in a state of collapse and could not attend. Mr. Hunt: What further evidence have-we? Mr. Hammond: We have evidence I bat deceased was in a state of infatuation with this woman and also ihat lie intended to commit suicide. Jolm Francis Stone, taxli-driver, said to took Davies and Mrs. Cubitt to Luna Park at 1.45 a.m. on January 1. Davies asked him to drive a little further, and ho did so, putting them down near the Yacht Club’s premises. Both were sober. “The only other witness I would like to call would be Mrs. Davies,” said Mr. Hammond. , “She won’t be able to tell us any more,” said the Magistrate. Suicide by drowning was the verdict of the (Coroner.